From the Southwestern Athletic Conference:
The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its Spring 2021 Football telecast schedule highlighted by a record number of games slated to be carried on ESPN’s linear and digital platforms.
“We’re extremely excited to release our upcoming slate of games set to be carried by ESPN for our Spring 2021 Football season,” said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland. “This lineup is highlighted by multiple intriguing matchups that will feature all of our member institutions competing in the sport of football during this highly unique spring season.”
“It was our commitment to deliver to our fans as many opportunities as possible for them to watch our games via ESPN’s wide variety of linear and digital platforms. This schedule is obviously a significant measure towards assisting us with achieving that objective. We look forward to the increased national exposure this slate of games provides our membership as well as our league as a whole.”
Jackson State will kickoff league coverage on Sunday, February 21 when the Tigers host Edward Waters at Veterans Memorial Stadium in what will be the official debut of new JSU head coach Deion Sanders.
The 2021 slate of ESPN games is also highlighted by two classics as the Labor Day Classic featuring Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M and Magic City Classic featuring Alabama A&M versus Alabama State (ESPNU) will take center stage on Saturday, March 6, and Saturday, April 17 respectively. The Magic City Classic will serve as the finale for league regular season linear coverage as that game is slated to be carried live on ESPNU.
The Prairie View A&M Panthers will travel to face the Jackson State Tigers live on ESPNU on Sunday, March 28 and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs will face Jackson State live on ESPNU on Saturday, April 10.
The Spring 2021 Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship game is slated to be shown live on ESPNU on Saturday, May 1. In all the league will make a record 16 appearances on ESPN platforms this upcoming spring season.
The full listing of upcoming SWAC football ESPN games that have been announced can be found below.
| Date | Time | Game | Live |
| Feb. 21 | 1:00 pm | Edward Waters at Jackson State | ESPN3 |
| Feb. 26 | 6:00 pm | Southern at Alabama State | ESPN3 |
| Feb. 27 | 2:00 pm | Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State | *ESPN3 |
| Mar. 6 | 12:00 pm | Jackson State at Grambling State | *ESPN3 |
| Mar. 6 | TBA | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern | ESPN3 |
| Mar. 6 | 7:00 pm | Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M | ESPN3 |
| Mar. 20 | TBA | Jackson State at Alabama State | *ESPN3 |
| Mar. 20 | 12:00 pm | Alabama A&M at Prairie View A&M | ESPN3 |
| Mar. 27 | TBA | Grambling State at Alabama A&M | ESPN3 |
| Mar. 27 | TBA | Alabama State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | ESPN3 |
| Mar. 28 | 3:00 pm | Prairie View A&M at Jackson State | ESPNU |
| Apr. 3 | 3:00 pm | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Mississippi Valley State | ESPN3 |
| Apr. 10 | 3:00 pm | Alabama A&M at Jackson State | ESPNU |
| Apr. 10 | 7:00 pm | Southern at Prairie View A&M | ESPN3 |
| Apr. 17 | 6:30 pm | Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State | ESPNU |
| May 1 | 3:00 pm | Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship | ESPNU |
*Indicates game will also be shown tape delayed on ESPNU
All times listed CST
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.
